U.S. Tops Trinidad & Tobago at NORCECA Champs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 29, 2011) – The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team opened the 2011 Men’s NORCECA Continental Championship with a 25-15, 25-7, 25-12 victory over Trinidad & Tobago on Monday in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Men begin the NORCECA Championship – the qualifying tournament for the FIVB World Cup, which is the first qualifier for the 2012 Olympic Games – with a 1-0 record in Pool B. On Tuesday, they will play Costa Rica at 3 p.m. PT.

According to a NORCECA press release, U.S. starting opposite Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) went down with an injury in the first set. Evan Patak (Pleasanton, Calif.) substituted for him and led in in scoring with 12 points on five successful attacks, one block and a match-high six aces. Middle blocker David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) also scored 12 points on seven kills (0.778 hitting efficiency) and a match-high five blocks.

“First of all, I feel disappointed for Clay’s injury, I hope he can make it back," U.S. setter Kevin Hansen (Newport Beach, Calif.) said. "We didn’t know what to expect of Trinidad. They played very well at the beginning. Our serving was more disciplined and we hope to continue to improve in all areas.”

The U.S. Men finished with a team hitting efficiency of 0.569 and a kill percent of 60.8. Trinidad & Tobago had a hitting efficiency of kill percent of 0.074 and a kill percent of 38.2. The United States led in blocks (10-2) and in aces (8-0).

The U.S. scored 26 points on T&T errors while committing just six of its own.

“I believe we played fairly balanced," U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) said. "We knew very little of Trinidad and they did a wonderful job in the first set putting pressure on my team that instantly made us take care of details, which is our system: think about every point, every set and every match."

Team Captain Nolan Tash led Trinidad & Tobago with nine points on a match-high nine kills.

Middle blocker Ryan Millar (Alpine, Utah) had two points on one block and one ace and outside hitter Sean Rooney (Wheaton, Ill.) totaled two points on two kills.

Hansen was credited with 13 assists. Libero Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) led the team in digs with four. Lotman led in receptions with eight while Lambourne added five.

U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) started Anderson and Lotman at outside hitter, Lee and Holt at middle blocker, Stanley at opposite, Hansen at setter and Lambourne at libero.

Patak substituted for Stanley in the first set and started the rest of the match. Jablonsky substituted for Anderson in the second set and started the third. Millar started the third set for Lee. Rooney played as a substitute.